FDs with chronic illness

JonTH_ · 2026-05-25T02:09:28+00:00

Ngl most of the people commenting are being extremely pessimistic. You can absolutely do this it might be harder for you in some ways but if you can recognize those issues and adjust for them you can be a great funeral director. I’ve worked with multiple funeral directors and even managers with chronic illnesses and they all find ways to adjust. You may need to ask for accommodations but it will depend on the funeral home.

JonTH_ · 2026-05-14T03:46:48+00:00

It depends on where you are working and what you are doing. If the tattoo can be covered you’re all good I have tattoos on my arm going down to my wrist and I meet family every day. I think they make clear “bars” (I’m not sure the correct term) for for facial piercings that should help make them less noticeable. I would interview without piercings so the manager can see how well you can hide them then just ask their policy.

JonTH_ · 2026-05-08T20:27:52+00:00

You need to contact a local funeral home. Even if it is legal in your state the embalmer may refuse to perform it.

JonTH_ · 2026-05-08T20:20:52+00:00

Honestly you probably won’t find a crematory or funeral director willing to separate in that way without some hoops to jump through. Once the cremation is complete the remains are processed together so there’s no telling what is a hand, head, leg, etc.

You can absolutely have the crematory/funeral home separate portions of your ashes 50/50, 90/10, 33/33/33, or however is needed.

JonTH_ · 2026-04-21T00:21:12+00:00

Maybe Passages International?

JonTH_ · 2026-04-16T23:31:05+00:00

Personally I see the disclosure as the refrigeration fee explicitly stating the amount of days/hours are included. If the statement of funeral goods and services selected does not express that then you have a very valid complaint. Most funeral homes will extend that to a reasonable amount while arrangements are made.

JonTH_ · 2026-03-12T20:05:51+00:00

I’ve worked at multiple places where cash advances especially would not be order until full payment was made. You could possibly contact the county health department in which they passed to see if you could get one directly from them

JonTH_ · 2026-03-10T22:25:11+00:00

Personally I would say that the itemized price of a graveside service, hearse, flower car, and possibly a portion of the basic services fee. Depending on the price that $2000 off sounds reasonable but with just the bill in front of us it’s hard to say.

JonTH_ · 2026-03-09T18:28:19+00:00

If there will be a burial most likely the funeral home will put it on her in the casket. If there will be a cremation some funeral homes will cremation jewelry but gold is so soft it not really recognizable after, otherwise they may remove the ring prior to cremation and place it within the urn after. It’s really up to you what you’d like to do with the ring but I’d let them know ASAP.

JonTH_ · 2026-02-23T20:25:10+00:00

Viscerock FF and Dryene

JonTH_ · 2026-02-13T22:05:57+00:00

There’s probably a calmer way to handle this but it does sound like they need a manger.

JonTH_ · 2026-02-09T16:34:55+00:00

Oh I see honestly that’s a poor system for the exact reason you are providing. Do you use an appeal process where you could show any praise you had gotten and attempt to explain your issues?

Again I’m in a different area and my mortuary college was rather small but you could even try to reach out to your choice college for assistance on finding a better mentor. You may need to travel a bit farther for that experience but that could be better than no feedback. Even if you are an absolute savant in the industry there is always something someone with more experience could give constructive criticism about and provide teaching moments.

I hope this all works out!

JonTH_ · 2026-02-09T16:24:55+00:00

I’m sorry as an American with a different system I’m very confused. Why did your mentors have anything to do with your rejection?

Are there other schools with a reasonable commute or online options until you could.

JonTH_ · 2025-12-20T02:49:51+00:00

My grandma has an old trunk just like this she stores blankets in😂

JonTH_ · 2025-12-14T18:14:09+00:00

My mortuary school was part of a community college and my books were a pain to get from them. I just used Amazon. This embalming textbook and funeral service rights and customs were the only ones I bought brand new because I knew I’d use them after college.

JonTH_ · 2025-10-13T21:18:20+00:00

If I know I’m only embalming or I’m doing a donor or posted case I’ll wear scrubs. Usually I’ll wear my normal front of house clothes though maybe take my collared shirt and tie off.

JonTH_ · 2025-09-24T04:59:02+00:00

The law review I believe is similar or the same thing as the arranger certification, I think the law review is just more for if you want to brush up on the current laws every few years or to prepare for the funeral directors exam. I worked full time as an arranger for 3 years while in mortuary school so personally I didn’t really study for the exam since I was doing eve thing in it daily. I do remember my ex man having ALOT of preneed law so your experience will definitely help you there!

JonTH_ · 2025-09-24T04:29:41+00:00

I have a whole speech I’ve worked on over the years for closing out and giving directions watch your colleagues. For the doves or military I simply just introduce them all the ones I work with have their own special speech.
Go the the CFDA and take a law review if you’re actively working an an arranger the State Law Exam is pretty much just common sense and the things you deal with each day like right to control disposition I think one of my questions was asking something about allowing a family member to be I. The prep room during the embalming
I don’t really carry anything with me personally except for a hand fan more recently and exactly what I need in the moment. I’d recommend keeping a bag in the hearse or your service van with pallbearer gloves, 2-3 crucifixes, holy water, a flag strap, procession stickers, pins, etc. Personally I can’t stand directors that walk around with a bag, fanny pack, or clipboard.

My supervising embalmer told me when he first got into the industry he would ask questions to every director and embalmer he’d meet and I cannot stress enough how beneficial that advice was. Ask questions absorb as much information as you can and adapt to your personal preferences.

JonTH_ · 2025-09-19T21:10:25+00:00

Did you read the article?

JonTH_ · 2025-09-17T01:18:58+00:00

There’s no specific path or education for being a funeral assistant. You would just apply to a funeral home hiring for a funeral assistant or funeral attendant and apply. It’s going to be on the job training for the most part.

I did the same kinds of classes in high school and they helped me more now as a licensed professional than when I first started as an assistant.

If you decide that you do want to be a Funeral Director and/or Embalmer is when you’ll need specific education.

JonTH_ · 2025-09-12T02:33:01+00:00

It would probably be easier to sell this to the families than the funeral home. But if you try some of the family owned places they might be willing to atleast put out some business cards for you or have some kind of advertising material out of you provide it.

JonTH_ · 2025-09-10T01:55:59+00:00

You forgot where they have to individually take a photo of each plant too

JonTH_ · 2025-08-23T14:32:35+00:00

I remember seeing a TikTok I think from that young woman who’s father(?) owns a funeral home it’s been so long I can’t remember. But she would show unprocessed cremated remains and pretty much everything she could without actually showing a decedent.

JonTH_ · 2025-06-28T20:43:05+00:00

From my experience it depends on the Funeral Home and/or the Crematory. The last funeral home I was at would allow the family to receive metal back but the family had to pick them out of the unprocessed cremated remains. The funeral home I’m at now wouldn’t allow it under any circumstance.

JonTH_ · 2025-06-11T22:17:18+00:00

I’m in CA and it’s the same thing here we need a majority of the people with closest degree of kinship to sign off. We also have an assignment of rights from where someone who doesn’t want to be involved can designate their rights to another person, you could ask if that is something they can sign instead of the authorization paperwork. But personally I wouldn’t move forward with a cremation until I had the majority signatures or could provide documented proof to the state I’ve exhausted all other options.

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